United are England's best now - Del Horno

Asier Del Horno claims Manchester United have overtaken Chelsea as England's top team because Jose Mourinho tinkered with his tactical formation.

Del Horno spent a season at Stamford Bridge, winning the Premiership title before being sold to Valencia last summer.

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The Spanish left back fell out of favour with Mourinho after being sent off for a lunging tackle on Lionel Messi in the 2-1 defeat to Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in February 2006.

He returns for the Champions League quarter-final clash and admits the prospect of facing the Blues holds no fear for a team who have already knocked out Italian league leaders Inter Milan.

He believes Mourinho's efforts to accommodate Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko with a midfield diamond has robbed Chelsea of their attacking fluency.

Del Horno, 26, said: "Chelsea are not as well balanced as they were last season. The diamond and the two in attack do not allow them to play such a flowing game. They can't impose themselves. I believe they have fallen behind Manchester United.

"In the season I was there Chelsea sought not to concede a goal and to win the three points. That was the objective and we did it very well.

"Mourinho prepares the team very well tactically and Chelsea win many games without playing well. They play the way they have to, even though they may not be good to watch.

"The key to beating Chelsea is to be very serious defensively, we must not lose concentration. If we get a draw there, we can beat them in the return game in the Mestalla."

Valencia's Fernando Morientes understands the frustration of Shevchenko and Ballack as they struggle in the Premiership because he suffered similarly at Liverpool.

Morientes, 30, will not play at Stamford Bridge after dislocating his shoulder playing for Spain but hopes to be fit for next week's second leg.

The former Real Madrid striker said: "It is hard to watch players like Ballack and Shevchenko having such a bad time as they are at the moment.

"When you try to adapt to a style of football like in the Premiership and you don't master it, it makes you very upset."

Morientes scored eight goals in 18 months at Anfield but has rekindled his career at the Mestalla playing up front alongside Chelsea target David Villa. He has his sights set on a sixth European Cup Final.

"I would settle for a final with Manchester United right now," he said. "They are the team playing the best football in Europe."

Chelsea have lost only once in 30 games - at Liverpool in January - but have rarely matched United for attractive football and ground out another win at Watford on Saturday with a goal in stoppage time.

Mourinho said: "We can't always be brilliant but we've had a fantastic month in terms of results."

The Blues manager reckons Morientes is a big loss for the visitors but he is still smarting from the injury to Arjen Robben, who underwent knee surgery after returning from international duty with a cartilage problem.

"If you ask me if I'd accept Morientes playing for Valencia and Robben for Chelsea I'd take it," said Mourinho. Joe Cole and Wayne Bridge returned to full training on Sunday but Michael Essien is still struggling with a knee injury.

Valencia will also be without David Navarro and Carlos Marchena, banned for their roles in the after-match brawl with Inter.